Special Christmas Chapter

    I put glass of red wine on table and stood in front of balcony door. I looked with bored gaze how out is snowing. Snowflakes showed their own dance performance as they were falling on city. On my large balcony had been several inches of snow. I hadn´t desire to go out and enjoying winter and snow. There is less cold than in Jotunheim and won´t definitely need warm fur of wild wolves and no special warm clothes which help keep me my inner warmth against the cold. On my railing landed Odin's ravens. He has sent them there until the time he found me. I don´t speak with them or go close to them. They are for me only strangers. I put my hand on the doorknob and opened it. Something told me that I must go out. I shivered from the cold. I skated on the frozen snow. I gently moved to them, Muninn looked at me. They flew away from me, when reached a hand to them. I shuddered from the cold again. I rubbed hand over my arms. I looked around me. People have tree in their apartments, decorated with different things and candles, balconies have also decorated with strange decorations. On same balconies is climbed some strange fat man with a beard dressed in a red and a large backpack on his back. If Odin had an eye and dressed in red costume so would be look same like the man in red. Tony explained me that this is Christmas. These are the holidays of peace, happiness and giving of gifts. I don´t understand on thing – gifts. Why are so important to them, gift you can give at any time, even aren´t Christmas. But Pepper told me that this is not about gifts, but about the family. It is a time when the family will meet again; each other give gifts and are happy, because they met. All the people on a few days are much tenderer, happy and smile for each without reason. I couldn´t stop thinking about this mortal holidays, searched all information about this on Internet. We don´t have and celebrate Christmas in Asgard. Christians celebrate Christmas as a celebration of birth of their Lord. In Slovakia, this country I chose, I came from, little Jesus give a gift the children, based on list, which children sent him. They are wonderful days of year; it is pity that I will not have them peaceful. I am looking for Loki still and I don´t stop until I not find him.

            "_______ have you a visit." J.A.R.V.I.S. said me.

            "Okay." I came into my apartment, where Tony was waiting on me. I startled looked at him. He hugged me with a big warm smile.

            "Hey, what are you doing here?" I asked him curiously.

            "I came for you. Why are you don´t have a Christmas tree? " He surprise asked me.

            "I spend my time in SHIELD, not at home and I am not glorifying Christmas."

            "________ Einerson can not celebrate it but ______ Black celebrate it. Take your clothes and gifts, if you have some and go with me." I smiled at him. "Do you celebrate something?" He asked me, when he was looking on the glass of wine. I shake my head.

            "Where do you want take me?" I asked him.

            "You spend Christmas with me and Pepper in New York. I will not leave you alone through the most beautiful days of the year. Well, go pack your clothes. " He gladly spoke. "Can I help you?"

            "No." I shake my head.

            "If you don´t have a gift, so we can go buy it. If you want!" He shouted at me. I looked out of the bedroom and I smiled at him.

            "Gifts gives little Jesus!" I replied him.

            "For us it is a Santa Claus." I laughed strongly when packed my clothes and cosmetics into bags. I use for quickly packing. It took me only a few minutes.

            "Why are you laughing?"

            "Because your Santa weared in red as you called him looks almost like Odin but he don´t give us a gifts.“

            "An interesting finding. Can we go?"

            "I'm ready, I do not know like you." Tony jumped off the couch.

            "J.A.R.V.I.S. secures the apartment."

            "As you say, sir."         

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            "Pepper can´t wait when you go. Especially, how you will react on our gift." Tony excitedly talked me in the elevator. I looked at him in surprise.

            "Gift for me?" I asked him quietly with enthusiasm. He nodded. He grabbed my hand and looked into my eyes.

            "______, I will not allow you to be worried, and was alone. Everything has time. Do not worry, we'll find your prince, wherever he is. Well, promise me you'll be happy." I nodded and hugged him strongly. Tony and Pepper mean lot to me, I do not know explain with the words how much. I'm willing to do anything for them. They help me and are always there for me.

            "Welcome home, sir." J.A.R.V.I.S. greeted Tony. Pepper turned from the Christmas tree. Their tree was beautiful. It has gold and white ball and satin bows. She was as always perfect dressed and happy. I finally see her without phone and diary in hands.

            "Welcome home ______. Tony took her bag away and takes her to her room. She must be tired after fly from Washington. She need rest and prepare for dinner." I was amazed how they enjoy these days. I saw on their face that they were happy. I smiled at them.

            "Come on." He told me. He led me to my room, which was near the living room. It was cozy and modern facilities. It was there all I needed. Private bathroom, TV and everything what I need. He put the bag on the bed. "I'm going, you can prepare.“

            "Tony." He stopped at the door. "Thank you for everything." I told him with a smile.

            "You are for us as a family." He answered me and left. Family. I found it in Midgard. I found what was not looking for. I sat on the bed. Same like Tony said me, I must be happy. I could be happy at least one day. I reached for my bag, and took out clothes from it. It's time to be a princess again.

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            I walked out of the room. Tony hold Pepper in warmly hugs around her waist and something was whispering her. She laughed at that, then he kissed her under a strange plants. They were both dressed as they would go on a party. I felt in the air pleasant smell of anise and cinnamon. I closed my eyes and deeply breathed of smell. I clutched in hands a gift for them. I have not forgotten them. It was a little thing, because give something to Stark and his girlfriend is difficult.

            "Where can I put it?" I asked them. They looked at me with mute astonishment. They looked as if they saw a ghost or a mirage. "What's wrong?" I asked them.

            "No." Tony replied.

            "Did you always look like now in Asgard?" Pepper asked me.

            "Why?" I asked blankly. I looked at each other and then looked at myself. "No."

            "Miss, are you single?" Tony asked me coquettishly and took strange plant and kissed me on cheek.

            "Tony!" Pepper snapped on him. He turned to her and gave her a kiss on the lips.

            “What it is?” I asked him and looked with finger on it.

            “It is mistletoe. Under it people kiss. Traditon.” Pepper rolled her eyes.

            "Is it not too much?" I asked them. I was wearing only a simple blue evening dress gently clasped my hair and put necklace on my neck.

            "No, you look great. Put it under the tree, after dinner, we will open them all together. Like a family."

            "I am now your daughter.“ They started laugh. „It smells great. What is it?" I asked curiously, when pleasant scent received into nose.

            "It's a turkey stuffed with prunes."

            "Hm. When it smells as good as it smell than it will taste great."

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            After a delicious and substantial evening we got to unwrapping gifts. Tony was generous to his girlfriend. He loves her so much.  It's up to see on him. Pepper also has worked hard to present. When I looked at the gifts, which they gave each other and what I give him. So I felt like a poor relation.

            "This is for you." Tony gave me a gift when Pepper said. I took it in my hands. It was a medium-sized box wrapped in gold paper. I carefully unpacked it. I was surprised. My eyes wide opened. It was a delicate gold chain on which were small gold wings.

            "Those wings are symbols of angels. Many of the people believe in guardian angels." Pepper said me with love.

            "Am I like a guardian angel?" I curiously asked her.

            "Yes, you." Tony replied. I hugged them both.

            "Thank you. Thank you for everything. Now open my gift. "I told them. Tony reached out my gift. He gently rattled with box. My present quietly knocked on the sides of the box. I smiled at them.

            "What is it?" He asked me anxiously. I saw on him that he is excited.

            "Open it." Pepper said him it was the big metallic strass ball.

            "Christmas decoration?" He asked in surprise.

            "No, this is not Christmas decoration, but when you want use like it so you can. In fact, it is a ball in which is stored your moments you have lived together."

            "How it is possible?" Pepper surprised asked me.

            "Everything you have ever told me I memorize then I put into this ball. When you look on it, so you can see all your happy moments of life." They stared into the ball, I saw on them surprised.

            "It's wonderful. It's like our personal film. "Pepper said enthusiastically.

            "How is it possible that I still did not invent it. Tell me how do you do it? "I laughed.

            "So If we whisper into ball about today, will be save into ball?“

            „Yes, they will be there forever. You can save all your memories and never be lost. Never fade and will always be beautiful and alive. We give each couple as a wedding gift in Asgard. It has always a spherical shape, because it has no end." Pepper hugged me.

            "It's beautiful what we have ever had given." Tony said. I smiled at them. I understand the essence of Christmas when I was looking on happy couple front of me. When you give something little, which is given from heart, it can pleases man more than anything else. People from Midgard have a right that Christmas is the most beautiful season of the year. Even the saddest person feels happy as ever. This is Christmas.